Apparatus for molding building blocks



Feb. 2, 1954 F. H. JACKMAN 2,667,679

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING BUILDING BLOCKS Filed June 1, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 2, 1954 F. H. JACKMAN APPARATUS FOR MOLDING BUILDING BLOCKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1949 Feb. 2, 1954 F. H. JACKMAN APPARATUS FOR MOLDING BUILDING-BLOCKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 1, 1949 //1 van 'or 74 f for eye 1954 F. H. JACKMAN APPARATUS FOR MOLDING BUILDING BLOCKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 1, 1949 huenzow Patented Feb. 2, 1954 APPARATUS "FOR MOIJ'DIN BUILDING BIJOCKS Frederick H. J ackman, SantaFe, N. :Mex.u

Applicationi line-"1, 1949;Serial-"No; 96533 lmclaimsz'a (01.? 259-41) 1 vffiie'present invention relates to 'improvements inaiipaiatds forfmoldingbuilding blocks andi'e- Iat'es'inorepa 'ticnlarly to apparatus'for molding blocks of th"character' referred to by vibratingf moi" b'oxeso1""the likefafter' charging-"the same wit jd mpmixture-includingPo tlandcement,- in efforts to' consolidate such mixture. It has furthe been proposed to apply mum-directional mong otherthings, Ihavdi's'coveredthat the coiis idatioflofmixtuies' ofthe character above re'f ems-may beacc'omp 1i shed notonij more" eXbditiOuslY and thoroughly; bilt'with' a much stfon'g'eifresultant product'byapplying to amold bo'itan'd the "miX therein 'a"'phiralit37 of "Vibratory," forces-mi markedly" diiferent frequencies, in the manner as will be hereinafter described.

v one of the main iob'je'ctsof thep'resent invention is to {provide fa superior apparatirswhereby" bii'i ing b'locksoi thechar'a'cter 're'ferred tdmay? bdpiodiice'd eXbediti'ously and economically:-

A furtherobject of the present inventionisto piovi'de a superior apparatus of the character refer to Wher'eb'ybiiiiding=blocks :of superior niformity; density" and strength" may be produced. I

Anothei obj ect of the present" ifiv'entioni is to"? piioi ide a' superior apparatus whereby, building-= blocks be pi'bdnce'd with" minimum danger of injilr'ylto the operators and with minimum manual effort. I

With the above and OthB 1"0bj-3'C13S" in .View, as will appeal" to" those'skilled' in the" aft ffo'm the ji'esent" disclosure; this invention inchi'de's' all" features in the Said disclosure which afe'" novel ve1fthepiior art. I

In the accompanying drawings; inw'hich cer tain modes of carry ng out I the present" invention are; shown fol illustrative purposes:

Fig 1 is a'i' iew mainly in front elevation of a1 molding--machine embodying thepre'sen't invention but withportions-of theira-me,- mol'dl-bo'x pressure-member andcarriage invertical section on theline l of Fig. S and withthe: parts in the position for moldingficement blocks;

Fig. 2 is a broken transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ofiFig. 1

3 is abroken sectiona-l view taken onvthe. line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig-14 6s abrokenwsectional viewtaken pnethez line 4-"-4 of--Fig:"1;"'

Fi'g': 5is a view of 'the machine 'in-si-de elevation; and

Fig. G isa view similar to Fig. ;1:but show-ingthe: pressure-member and mold-"boxnretired upwardly i with respect :to-the: newly-formed cement blocks;

The r particulan apparatus- 01': molding machine: chosen fdr il-l'listiation in-the accompanying-draws ings for purposes of 'making:clearazprefer-red'2 form of the -.present:inventi'on', inc1udes- :a trelative'ly-heavy base plate l 0 from which-upwardly. extend" four (more or less) frameeuprightse l I"; each rigidly 'attaclfed ins. spaced r relationship; tit their lower ends ineany:suitable manner tojthe base=piate l fl"as,:for instance; by meansoi gusset-L- platesi 2? indicated in Figs; 1'- and-"6:?

As is clearly indicated inrFigs: 2candi23gthe: ffame upnightsil I are spa'ced Homaeachother-in a'rectangularipattern and areseachzofrangle-iron: form. The said frame -uprightsextendaintparal leli'sm with each other? and? at their: respective; upper ends are rigid-1y: coupled: together by an cross-head l 3; asis =:-especia-1-1y well shown in: Figs; 1an'd 6l H n t 1 Fig;-- 53; thervfront: framer-uprt i'ig'hts H may have their lower portions rein-i forced and braced by: suitable." brace-members; such" as l4;

A t a point su bstantia-Hy-e one-third up from their respective lower ends; the: frame-uprights; II have secured to them a bed-fplate lfisextenda ing horizontallyi ln addition to holdin the said ftamempri'gh-ts": irrspaced relationshi zv, th'e said bed p1a-te-a1soprovides a support upon whichthe concrete orequivalent buildingeblocks may: be: formed or cast, in a manner aswillbe hereinafter described:

Carried by the: previously-described frame which comprises, inthemain, the-elementsllO to [5 inclusive; is a vertically reciprocable carriage, comprising, imthe main, two-relatively-widevertical channels i -l6 which are -parallelitoeach other and which are: rigidly interconnected at their upper' ends: by a; crosshead I12 and at their. lbw-er ends by crossbars: IG -IE which latter are especiallywell shown in Fig; 3.

' The channels l6 -l'6-' of the carriage arem'ounted with capacity for-vertical movementbetween each endrgair of. frame uprig hts H in, a manner which will be clear by reference to Figs. 2A and 5, Each vertical channel I 6-4.6 has the outer edges ofits entiflanges riding against. a plural'ity of. antifriction rollers I'S', each suppoi ted" by meansof a bracket 2! attached to' the adjacent one of the frame-uprights l l, as is especially well shown in Fig. 4.

Mounted centrally on top of the crosshead l3 of the frame is a cylinder 2| in which vertically reciprocates a piston 22 having an upwardly-extending piston-rod 23 connected to the central portion of the crosshead I! of the carriage. The cylinder 2! has leading into it two tubes 24 and 25 at points respectively above and below the piston 22' so that fluid such as water, air, or the like, may be caused to force the piston either upwardly or downwardly as is desired. The admission of fluid under pressure beneath the piston 22 will serve to force the piston 22, pistonrod 23 and crosshead ll upwardly, thereby raising the entire carriage comprising the elements IS, IT and i8 upwardly from the position in which they are shown in Fig. 1 into the position in which they are shown in Fig. 6. Under normal conditions, when it is desired to lower the carriage,.gravity will serve this purpose provided fluid is permitted to escape through the tube 25.

For thepurpose of accurately predetermining the lowermost position of the carriage, each channel I6 is provided with an inwardly-projecting lug 26, in which is vertically mounted one of two stop-screws 21-2'|. The said stop-screws 21-21 are each adapted to engage with the upper surface of the crosshead l3 of the frame, under conditions as will hereinafter appear.

Also carried by the crosshead I3 of the frame in axial alignment with the cylinder 2|, is a cylinder 28 having a piston 29 reciprocating therein. The said cylinder is provided with tubes 30 and 3! respectively leading into its upper and lower ends and through which fluid may be caused to flow to effect either the raising or lowering of the said piston.

Projecting downwardly from the piston 29 and through the bottom of the cylinder 28 is a piston-rod 32 rigidly secured at its lower end to the upper surface of the head-plate 33 of a pressure-member generally designated by the reference character 34. Depending from the headplate 33 are three (more or less) pressure-feet 35 of hollow form and respectively adapted to freely fit into the adjacent one of three B-shaped cavities 35 formed vertically in a mold-box 31. The particular shape of the cavities 36 may vary widely and in the present instance is of substantially-stan-dard form and best apparent by reference to Fig. 2'.

The mold-box 31 above referred to is carried by the carriage which comprises the elements l6, l1 and M3, by being provided at its respective opposite ends with oppositely-projecting supporting-studs 38 and 39. The said supporting-studs respectively have their outer ends rigidly attached to the base of similar yokes 4 0 and 4! rigidly mounted against the respective outer faces of the adjacent channels l8 of the carriage. Respectively pivotally mounted in the yokes 40 and 4| by means of studs 42 are pivotal yokes 43 and 44 which are adapted to pivot slightly in a vertical plane around the studs 42 as a center. Interposed between the outer face of the base of the yoke 40 and the inner face of the base of the yoke 43 is a resilient pad 45 of rubber or equivalent material. A similar Dad 45 is interposed between the inner face of the base of the yoke 44 and the outer face of the base of the yoke 4|--all as is especially well shown in Fig. 2.

Journaled in the respective arms of the pivotal yoke 43 is a vibratorshaft 46 having rigidly attached thereto a wheel 41 which is located beably in the form of tween the side-arms of the yoke 43 and which, through the intermediary of the yokes 43 and 40, is carried by the adjacent channel It of the carriage. Firmly clamped to the respective opposite ends of the vibrator-shaft 46 are vibratorweights 48-48 (Fig. 2) which are driven by the wheel 4'! in a manner as will presently appear.

The periphery of the wheel 4! above described is adapted to normally rest against the periphery of a drive-wheel 49 rigidly mounted upon the forward end of a motor-shaft 50 extending in parallelism with the vibrator-shaft 46 above described and located below and slightly outwardly with respect thereto-as is especially well shown in Fig. 1.

The motor-shaft 50 projects forwardly from an electric motor 5i or other suitable source of power, and the said motor, in turn, is secured to the upper face of a platform 52 extending horizontally outwardly from the rear portion of the frame and supported at its outer end on one or more posts 53-as is indicated in Figs. 1 and 6.

The pivotal yoke 44 in a manner similar to the pivotal yoke 43, has journaled in its respective opposite sides a vibrator-shaft 54 having a wheel 55 rigidly attached thereto intermediate the side-arms of the yoke 44. At its respective opposite ends exteriorly of the yoke 44, the vibrator-shaft 54 has rigidly attached thereto vibrator-weights 55-56 functioning in a, manner similar to the vibrator weights 48-48 before referred to.

The periphery of the wheel 55 is adapted to engage with the periphery of a drive-wheel 51 mounted upon the forward end of a motor-shaft 58 extending in substantial parallelism with the vibrator-shaft 54. The shaft 58 forms a feature I of an electric motor 59 or other suitable drivemeans. lhe motor 59 is attached to the upper surface of a platform 60 extending horizontally from the side of the apparatus opposite the platform 52 and supported on one or more suitable posts 6 I.

Both of the drive-wheels and 51 are preferair-infiated rubber-tired wheels to thereby provide desirable resiliency and frictional coaction with the wheels 41 and 55 respectively.

In addition to having rigidly connected to it the piston-rod 32, the pressure-member 34 has rigidly upstanding from it on each of the respective opposite sides of the said piston-rod, one of two guide-rods 62-32 adapted to extend with a sliding fit through the crosshead I3 of the frameas is especially well shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The said guide-rods 52 serve to aid in maintaining the pressure-member 34 in registration with the cavities 36 in the mold-box 31.

Extending vertically between the central portion of the bed-plate l5 and the base-plate Ill is a vibrator-shaft 53. The said vibrator-shaft is journaled at its upper end in an antifrictionbearing 64 attached to the underface of the said bed-plate l5 and journaled at its lower end in an antifriction-bearing 35 secured to the upper face of the base-plate I0. vibrator-shaft 63 eccentrically with respect thereto, is an inner ball-race 36 surrounded by an outer ball-race 61. Interposed between the outer surface of the inner ball-race 65 and the inner surface of the outer ball-race 61, is a plurality of balls or other suitable rolling-members 38, as is indicated in Fig. 3.

Respectively located on opposite sides of the i vibrator-unit comprising the parts 61 and 63 Rigidly attached to the flew-2 92% is are .thrust are ewie r times as'fast, H ,eqmm m e nr @P esi v y, he ,r-ym'iian zem. ,g tes erably with the vibrationsbut-ofardi fianse firs 93%? m imum WW1, to b N Hewlett d d 11 9 v. h.e r bretqrzehe tfi -.ad.- .11 be is foilowsr 6065, 577 iee nt i s -.19 end=, e remorse Rel-1 rd .rqcgsir- 499 .9 .29 m9 555% ing n endls s belt 12 which a l sp extende grey 13rd 11gb.

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The vibrator-weights 567F515 will plea r. t e-man e -.iu t.: 1 .c ib dincomee m;m g pymeeqsbfewmgh vish. it t 'b em .veeh i i-: 5 ,fal hog hwhayilrlgaa le ma i er her e withd aws? qret an? e r lfiere tp mii ay-rbeksu l ed prime ne f 1 491 129 r fi =5.-

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stems. After the lapse of a suitable brief Reriod, the lqoncrete mix in the mold -boxr 3?! will be than .eughly eompateted and formed, whereupon water, air, .or other fluid may-.be'introducel beneath the l p'iston Z2 therekiy causing the same to lift the mime earr'i'ege :ompri'sirig the elements l-6 H and Bftogether with mamomgbcx S'IfWh-lethe The raising of he mo1 b0;

ed ,hat a 1; o r the 991? r: he b ,7

9f ts o the t eye v. scribed the. wh els A! SD L mit, lore en a ement with ee s 53 and 57, thereby autocgb v stopping .(after. a short coasting: periada' e I inging pf the vibrator-Weights 68433, and However, during the raising 'of the moldbed, and the stripping'o f the $1 3 Add rbloeks therefrprn; the v i t comp 1 elementej BB, 61 and rgrte to such a degree as will Cdrisiclering all of the motor {361 g" "substalfltially fidlitie W111 'fei'plv a e er ll al wh e the 0 'vi' ra vt-i t 5 W1 n t rn. r t te at "ele er' s peed. The three speeds referred mimi 'r r' -ItsJ e ret riallx 1 re t fiarfie y, thajttl'iesgieed of a higher sbeed-ythre tgr flew- P P9 19 e e nereeet hgeee H the cavities 3b in the mold-box 31'.

readily free the newly-cast building-blocks from The pressure-member 34 may now be lifted into its retired position (Fig. 6) by supplying water, air or the like under pressure beneath the piston screws 21-21 engage with the crosshead is of the frame, whereupon the mold-box 31 will again be restored to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, preparatory to being recharged with a suitable mix in any suitable manner such, for instance, as by the actuation of the feeder T5.

The lowering of the carriage as above described, will automatically re-engage the wheels 4? and 55 respectively with the drive-wheels 49 and 51,

thereby subjecting the mix to the simultaneous action of three vibratory forces of different frequencies respectively.

After the cavities 3 8 in the mold-box 3! have been recharged with mix, the pressure-member 34 may be lowered and kept under downward pressure by supplying water, air, or the like into the cylinder 28 at a point above the piston 29.

To achieve the optimum results, it is important to maintain the mold-box 31 out of contact with the pallet 16 or its equivalent during the vibrating action referred to. Furthermore, it is of great importance to continue the vibration of the moldbox 31 during the stripping of the newly-cast building-blocks therefrom, since, by means of the present apparatus and method, the aggregate is so firmly consolidated and packed as to be very difilcult to strip in the absence of the continued vibratory force referred to.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirt and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for molding building-blocks, including in combination: a, frame having means designed and adapted to support a wet concrete mix; a drive-wheel associated with the said frame; a carriage movable with respect to the said frame, support-means and drive-wheel; a mold-box carried by the said carriage and movable therewith toward and away from the said support-means; a vibrator also carried by the said carriage and connected to the said mold-box to vibrate the same; and a wheel connected to the said vibrator to operate the same, the said wheel being carried by the said carriage and constructed and arranged to engage with the said drive-wheel when the said movable carriage is in an advanced position and to disengage from the said drive-wheel when the said carriage is retired.

2. An apparatus for molding building-blocks, including in combination: a frame having means designed and adapted to support a wet concrete mix; a drive-wheel associated with the said frame; a carriage movable with respect to the said frame, support-means and drive-wheel; a moldbox carried by the said carriage and movable therewith toward and away from the said supportmeans; adjustable stop-means holding the said mold-box spaced from the said support-means when the said carriage is advanced; a vibrator also carried by the said carriage and connected to the said mold-box to vibrate the same; and, a wheel connected to the said vibrator to operate the same, the said wheel being carried by the said carriage and constructed and arranged to engage with the said drive-wheel when the said movable carriage is in an advanced position and to disengage from the said drive-wheel when the said carriage is retired.

3. An apparatus for molding building-blocks, including in combination: a frame having means designed and adapted to support a wet concrete mix; a plurality of drive-wheels associated with the said frame; a carriage movable with respect to the said frame, support-means and drivewheels; a mold-box carried by the said carriage and movable therewith toward and away from the said support-means; a plurality of vibrators also carried by the said carriage and connected to the said mold-box to vibrate the same; and a plurality of wheels respectively connected to the said vibrators to operate the same, the said wheels being carried by the said carriage and constructed and arranged to respectively engage with the said drive-wheels when the said movable carriage is in an advanced position and to disengage from the said drive-wheels when the said carriage is retired.

4. An apparatus for molding building-blocks, including in combination: a frame having means designed and adapted to support a wet concrete mix; a plurality of drive-wheels associated with the said frame; a carriage movable with respect to the said frame, support-means and drive-wheels; a mold-box carried by the said carriage and movable therewith toward a-nd away from the said support-means; adjustable stop-means holding the said mold-box spaced from the said supportmeans when the said carriage is advanced; a plurality of vibrators also carried by the said carriage and connected to the said mold-box to vibrate the same; and a plurality of wheels respectively connected to the said vibrators to operate the same, the said wheels being carried by the said carriage and constructed and arranged to respectively engage with the said drive-wheels when the said movable carriage is in an advanced position and to disengage from the said drive-wheels when the said carriage is retired.

5. An apparatus for molding building-blocks, including in combination: a frame having means designed and adapted to support a wet concrete mix; a pair of drive-wheels associated with the said frame respectively adjacent the opposite ends of the said support-means; a carriage movable with respect to the said frame, support-means and drive-wheels; a mold -box carried by the said carriage and movable therewith toward and away from the said support-means; a pair of vibrators also carried by the said carriage and respectively connected to the opposite ends of the said moldbox to vibrate the same; and a pair of wheels respectively connected to the said vibrators to operate the same, the said wheels being carried by the said carriage adjacent the respective opposite ends of the said mold-box and constructed and arranged to respectively engage with the said drive-wheels when the said movable carriage is in an advanced position and to disengage from the said drive-wheels when the said carriage is retired. I

6. An apparatus for molding building-blocks,

including in combination: a frame having means designed and adapted to support a wet concrete mix; a pair of drive-wheels associated with the said frame respectively adjacent the opposite ends of the said support means; a carriage movable with respect to the said frame, support-means and drive-wheels; a mold-box carried by the said carriage and movable therewith toward and away from the said support-means; adjustable stopmeans holding the said mold-box spaced from the said support-means when the said carriage is advanced; a pair of vibrators also carried by the said carriage and respectively connected to the opposite ends of the said mold-box to vibrate the same; and a plurality of wheels respectively connected to the said vibrators to operate the same, the said wheels being carried by the said carriage adjacent the respective opposite ends of the said mold-box and constructed and arranged to respectively engage with the said drive-wheels when the said movable carriage is in an advanced position and to disengage from the said drive-wheels when the said carriage is retired.

7. An apparatus for melding building-blocks, including in combination: a frame having means designed and adapted to support a wet concrete mix; a drive-wheel associated with the said frame; a carriage movable with respect to the said frame, support-means and drive-wheel; a mold-box carried by the said carriage and movable therewith toward and away from the said support-means; a first vibrator also carried by the said carriage and connected to the said moldbox to vibrate the same; a wheel connected to the said first vibrator to operate the same, the said wheel being carried by the said carriage and constructed and arranged to respectively engage with the said drive-wheel when the said movable carriage is in an advanced position and to disengage from the said drive-wheel when the said carriage is retired; and a second vibrator connected to the said support-means and constructed and arranged to continuously vibrate the same when the mold-box is in both its advanced and retired position with respect to the said support-means.

8. An apparatus for molding building-blocks, including in combination: a frame having means designed and adapted to support a wet concrete mix; a pair of drive-wheels associated with the said frame; a carriage movable with respect to the said frame, support-means and drive-wheels; a mold-box carried by the said carriage and movable therewith toward and away from the said support-means; a pair of vibrators also carried by the said carriage and respectively connected to the opposite ends of the said mold-box to vibrate the same; a pair of wheels respectively connected to the said vibrators to operate the same, the said wheels being carried by the said carriage and constructed and arranged to respectively engage with the said drive-wheels when the said movable carriage is in an advanced position and to disengage from the said drivewheels when the said carriage is retired; and a third vibrator connected to the said supportmeans and constructed and arranged to continuously vibrate the same when the mold-box is in both its advanced and retired position with respect to the said support-means.

9. An apparatus for molding building-blocks,

including in combination: a frame having means designed and adapted to support a wet concrete mix; a pair of drive-wheels associated with the said frame; a carriage movable with respect to the said frame, support-means and drive-wheels; a mold-box carried by the said carriage and movable therewith toward and away from the said support-means; a pair of vibrators also carried by the said carriage and respectively connected to the opposite ends of the said mold-box to vibrate the same; a pair of wheels respectively connected to the said vibrators to operate the same, the said wheels being carried by the said carriage and constructed and arranged to respectively engage with the said drive-wheels when the said movable carriage is in an advanced position and to disengage from the said drivewheels when the said carriage is retired; and a third vibrator connected to the said supportmeans and constructed and arranged to continuously vibrate the same when the mold-box is in both its advanced and retired position with respect to the said support-means; the vibrating speed of the one of the said vibrators being more than five percent greater than the vibrating speed of the other vibrator.

10. An apparatus for molding building-blocks, including in combination: a frame having means designed and adapted to support a wet concrete mix; a pair of drive-wheels associated with the said frame; a carriage movable with respect to the said frame, support-means and drive-wheels; a mold-box carried by the said carriage and movable therewith toward and away from the said support-means; a first and second vibrator also carried by the said carriage and respectively connected to the opposite ends of the said mold-box to vibrate the same; a pair of wheels respectively connected to the said vibrators to operate the same, the said wheels being carried by the said carriage and constructed and arranged to re-' spectively engage with the said drive-wheels when the said movable carriage is in an advanced position and to disengage from the said drivewheels when the said carriage is retired; and a third vibrator connected to the said supportmeans and constructed and arranged to continuously vibrate the same when the mold-box is in both its advanced and retired position with respect to the said support-means; the respective vibratory speeds of the said three vibrators differing by at least five percent.

FREDERICK H. J ACKMAN References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 960,953 Keny June 7, 1910 1,280,269 Miller Oct. 1, 1918 1,796,636 Toulmin, Jr Mar. 17, 1931 2,275,676 Gelbman et al. Mar. 10, 1942 2,296,453 Saffert Sept. 22, 1942 2,296,562 Maxwell Sept. 22, 1942 2,309,033 Baily Jan. 19, 1943 2,311,358 Baily Feb. 16, 1943 2,319,291 Besser May 18, 1943 2,366,780 Gelbman et al Jan. 9, 1945 2,505,342 Schaaf Apr. 25, 1950 

